Politics · India Bureau
Kerala High Court upholds visa ban for Pakistani national married to Indian
The Kerala High Court has rejected a plea by a Pakistani woman seeking entry into India to join her Indian husband, citing an ongoing government suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals. The court held that the blanket visa ban, imposed following the Pahalgam terror attack, remains in force and cannot be bypassed on an individual basis.
LSN India ·
A petition filed by a Pakistani national seeking a visa to enter India and live with her Indian spouse was dismissed by the Kerala High Court on Tuesday, with judges noting that a government-wide suspension on visa processing for Pakistani citizens continues to be in effect. The court found that no exception could be made for the petitioner's case, as the blanket policy remains active and operative across all visa categories. The suspension was introduced following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which prompted Indian authorities to halt visa services for nationals of Pakistan as a security measure. The petitioner had argued that her marriage to an Indian citizen warranted special consideration and expedited processing of her visa application. However, the court ruled that individual circumstances could not override the blanket government order that remains in force. The judgment underscores the continued application of the visa suspension policy, which has affected numerous Pakistani nationals seeking to visit or relocate to India for personal and family reasons. Officials confirmed that the government directive suspending visa services to Pakistani nationals has not been withdrawn or modified since its implementation.